Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 693

On my way to the breakroom, I casually asked a few coworkers, "Mr. Shane didn't come in today?"

They exchanged looks, barely holding back laughter. It only made me more curious. "What's the deal? Something happen to him?"

"He got scratched up!" one finally blurted.

"His girlfriend probably did it," someone else chimed in.

"Who knew she had claws like that?"

"Yeah, well, he was at a nightclub. Honestly, if I were her, I'd scratch him up too."

The chatter snowballed from there, painting a pretty clear picture: Ron wasn't in because he had a visible scratch on his face and was too embarrassed to show up.

When I got back to my desk, I couldn't resist giving him a call. Not to poke fun-just, you know, check in. After all, he'd always been nice to me.

The moment he picked up, Ron didn't even give me a chance to say hi. "Don't listen to the nonsense those gossiping hens at the office are saying. None of it's true."

dog barks first. I played dumb. "Huh? What are you even talking about? Who said

11

you go to the office today?

get me started..." And just like that, he launched into a dramatic retelling of the exact story the office had already spilled. By the end, he dropped the ultimate punchline: "You know what

storm cloud hanging over my mood. I couldn't resist poking him. "Oh? Thinking about switching

"But

like a small jolt, but Ron didn't mean anything by it-it was just the

stayed quiet, and it must've clicked for him what he'd just said. "Oh, shoot. Sorry,

go to?"

without hesitation. Then he stopped, like

he'd

Isn't it where the Seavora crowd goes

Ron huffed. "But nope, she still flipped out. Maybe because I came home late? I don't know. You women -always

He really just offended every woman on the planet

she calmed down after... you know, scratching you?" I

"is sold on erin bad mad?ch, do gon's